Whatever the University of Rhode Island coach did say, it worked. After getting knocked around in a sloppy first half by Division II power Metropolitan State of Denver, the Rams reversed field and played a spirited second half and rode off with a 66-63 win.

Metro State ran out to a 14-point first-half lead and looked very much like a team capable of beating a load of Division I squads. But once the Rams stiffened their defense, they went on a 21-5 run to start half and take control of the game.

“We just had to pick up our defensive pressure. Once we did that, everything else would fall into place,” senior guard Xavier Munford said. “In the second half we started playing our style of game and attacking and going at them. They were very good. We didn’t under-estimate them at all and we really had to work hard to get this win.”

Munford and freshman E.C. Matthews led the Rams with 16 points apiece. Foul trouble limited several other Rams but Hurley received big plays from up and down his bench and the defense limited Metro State to 33 percent shooting in the second half.

“We played a really good team, just what I expected,” Hurley said. “Whether you put a two or a one next to their name, it doesn’t matter. I coached at Wagner in the Northeast Conference. Metro State would finish in the top couple spots in the NEC. This was hopefully a breakthrough moment for our guys in terms of their confidence that will hopefully pay off in a lot of close games.”

With the win, the Rams move on to take on fifth-ranked Arizona or Fairleigh Dickinson on Tuesday. The game will tip at 11 p.m. and be telecast by ESPNU.

“It’s a great opportunity for us,” Hurley said of the matchup against the Wildcats. “You go into that game excited about the opportunity to do something special on the road against a top-five program.”

Hurley’s worst fears were quickly realized in this one. Even though the Rams were the highest-seeded team not hosting a game in the NIT, they faced several decided disadvantages. For one, while the Rams had a smattering of fans, Metro State brought along its cheerleaders and band and even had many Arizona fans choosing to root the Division II school on.

Metro’s first-half lead grew to 40-26 and the lead was 40-30 at the break. Hurley went to a smaller lineup to start the second half and began pressuring every dribble and pass possible. The result was a sterling opening 10 minutes. Metro made just two of its first 12 shots and a 21-5 run to open the half put URI in control for the first time all night, 51-45.

Gilvydas Biruta (8 points, 4 rebounds) was in and out of foul trouble from the game’s opening five minutes but he made some key contributions when it counted. He picked up his fourth foul with 8:30 to play and that opened the door for Metro to fight back. The Roadrunners made it 57-57 with just under five minutes left.

Biruta returned and quickly scored inside. After Metro made it 59-59, Biruta put back a miss. The Rams responded with two stops and Matthews and Munford combined to sink 5-of-6 free throws in the final 36 seconds to ice the game.